In 1872 Lieutenant Colonel George Crook was sent to the Arizona Territory to bring an end to years of warfare with the Indians by negotiating peace and moving the Indian tribes to reservations. By fall he had brought relative peace after crafting a treaty with Cochise. In November he began a winter campaign to make life miserable for those renegade Indians who still chose to fight. Under pressure from cavalry patrols, he knew they would be forced to retreat into the mountains to try to survive the snow and low temperatures. The target area was the Tonto Basin where Western Apache bands and Yavapais had been raiding and eluding troops for several years. He hoped that when the women and children began to suffer, the men would surrender without fighting. Believing it would take Apaches to find Apaches, Crook hired Apache warriors who wanted peace to help his men find those who wanted war. Sergeant William Alchesay was one of ten Indian Scouts who guided Crook's columns during the
winter campaign of 1872-73 that was cited for "Gallant conduct during the campaigns and engagements with Apaches." Twelve members of the U.S. Cavalry also earned Medals of Honor during this series of engagements.

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